The world is overly stimulating. That sentiment is true enough when it comes to people who don’t have regular focus or attention problems. Now imagine how difficult it must be to get things done when you have Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Anxieties caused by attention disorders can paralyze those diagnosed with them.
Overwhelming dread caused by a seemingly insurmountable to-do list can cause any adult or child with ADHD to shut down. Instead of getting things done, they procrastinate in an attempt to either rationalize the situation or concoct a way to get out of it. Either way, ADHD can be quite an inhibitor for getting things done.
However, ADD and ADHD isn’t a death sentence for productivity. Some time management skills and a deeper understanding of what may be triggering a lack of focus may help you or your loved one meet their goals. Here are some tips for getting things done with ADD and ADHD.
Cut Down on Social Media
More than ever, we have access to information, celebrities, and each other at our fingertips. If knowledge is power, then a smartphone is quite the dumbbell. Dumbbells can make you stronger, but if you put more weight on than you can press, you can do immense damage to your biceps and wrists. The same can be said for a smartphone.
We are in an era of information overload. The endorphins that go off when we receive a notification on Facebook, refresh a news feed to get the latest political news, or find a great deal on Amazon Prime are addictive. For someone looking for reasons to put off doing work (like a person diagnosed with ADHD), the internet is a natural cause for escape.
One analysis looking at the smartphone usage and awareness of 409 people found that, “70.4% of the study participants use [a] smartphone longer than intended.” So, not only are those with ADD being pulled into social media, they’re not even aware it’s happening.
If there are essential tasks to be done, those with ADD should hide their phone. For those who work on a computer, put up a setting that will block browsing websites during work hours. Also, during your downtime, don’t turn to social media. Instead, read a book, go for a walk, or call someone and have a meaningful conversation. Break the cycle off-hours, and it’ll be easier to manage a social media addiction when it’s time to get things done.
Make a To-Do List
In a post about getting things done, we’d be remiss if we neglected to mention making a to-do list. When you have ADD or ADHD, there are already a bunch of thoughts running through your mind. You don’t need all the tasks you have to do rattling about in there as well.
When you make a to-do list, it helps to see the big picture. Sometimes those with ADD don’t accomplish their goals because they don’t know where to start. It’s hard to imagine accomplishing a task when it’s just floating about in your mind. Putting it to paper helps you see the task in a different light.
Suddenly, accomplishing your to-do list might not be so overwhelming. That’s because now you can prioritize your goals, manage your schedule around them, and create an action course to complete your tasks.
Research suggests that when you write down a goal, it triggers internal encoding. Scientists believe that writing tasks down creates a photographic reminder on a molecular level. These will continue to pop up until the goal is completed. That’s why you are 1.2 to 1.4 times more likely to get things done if you write them down first.
Once you have a to-do list, you are ready to start. Help drill out any desire to stray from your job with natural supplements such as Focusene. Focusene is enriched with dandelion root. This powerful flower works as a PDE4 inhibitor. Therefore, your brain doesn’t burn through cAMP, a pivotal catalyst for cognitive function.
Get Organized
Sometimes our environment is a reflection of what’s going on inside. If your desk is cluttered with bills, the computer desktop has three year’s worth of random documents and pictures, and your email is spam city, then your ADD or ADHD may start to take over.
When things are disorganized, that can send a person with attention disorder into a tailspin. After all, how can they complete this never-ending to-do list if they keep fixating on how disorderly everything else is? Never let it get disorderly by staying organized.
Add your email to catalogchoice.org to stop the spamming. Delegate a day of the week to address all the physical mail delivered to your house. Also, clean up your desktop and put all files into organized folders. Getting all of these potential distractions in line will inevitably raise the productivity level of someone diagnosed with ADD or ADHD.
Clear the Mind
Worrying about things never helps anyone–especially when they have ADD or ADHD. Obsessing over deadlines and fighting off diversions is a lot for someone with focus issues to wade their way through. That’s why if you have ADD or ADHD, you should try to channel some of that nervous energy.
For one, try yoga and meditation. Worry only brings on stress and manifests as procrastination. By doing yoga and meditating, it forces you to be in the moment. Therefore, you won’t be bogged down with dread over your task list. Furthermore, you’ll come at these tasks with a refreshed state of mind and perhaps even a new approach.
Another excellent way to channel that anxiety is to use all-natural supplements. Supplements like Tranquilene are formulated with GABA. GABA is a neurotransmitter that has a calming effect on the system.
To help your body produce more of this beneficial neurotransmitter, Tranquilene also has L-theanine. Derived from green tea, this potent amino acid naturally increases GABA production, while simultaneously stimulating the production of dopamine. Therefore, you not only feel relaxed but also excited to complete your goals.
Change Up Diet
The number of children diagnosed with ADD and ADHD has increased an alarming 10% over the last 20 years. Keep in mind: This is just the number of children we’re aware of. It’s not shocking that these numbers continue to climb as the food practices of those who follow a western diet become more controversial.
Several studies look at attention disorders and foods made with inorganic ingredients. The conclusion of one study looked at the effect artificial food coloring (AFC) has on children with ADD. The results stated, “AFCs are not a main cause of ADHD, but they may contribute significantly to some cases, and in some cases may additively push a youngster over the diagnostic threshold.”
Another analysis looked at refined sugars and the behavior of hyperactive children. The conclusion found that the more sugar a child with ADD consumes, the more restless they will be. Suffice it to say, the same can be said for adults. Eating refined sugars is like adding fuel to a raging fire.
One of the best ways to put out this fire is to add a little hemp oil to it. Serenity Hemp Oil is a full-spectrum CBD tincture that helps promote homeostasis throughout the system. When all of our vitals are in balance, we are free to tackle the task at hand with more vigor.
Do you have ADD or ADHD? How do you handle the heavy burden of a to-do list? Let us know in the comments below.
